Piano

The piano is a great choice if you’re just starting out. Learning how to play this wonderful instrument will enhance your musical knowledge and it is a great starting point for learning other instruments.

The piano was invented around the year 1700ad, by a man named Bartolomeo Cristofori. It was actually a development from the previously used instrument, the harpsichord, and has throughout the years progressed in sound and strength.

A piano works through a setup of hammers lined up behind each string, which are stretched across the entire length of the instrument. When a key is depressed, the hammer strikes the strings and causes it to vibrate. Once the key is released, a damper is placed on top of the string, which stops the sound immediately.

There has been an immense amount of writers for this instrument, dating back from the 1700’s through to present day, and covering every style possible. Writers such as Beethoven, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Liszt & Brahms wrote a lot of music for the piano in the classical era, and were instrumental in demonstrating the piano’s capabilities.

Instrument Care

The piano requires a bit of looking after to maintain it’s beautiful sound. Although pianos come in many different sizes and shapes, they are still precious and fragile and deserve to be loved.

Keep your piano well cleaned; excessive dust or dirt can cause polish to wear and and can also affect the strings and mechanism inside the instrument.

Be gentle with the action; although pianos can take a fair pounding, the hammers inside the instrument will wear and become unnecessarily dented when used without care.

Have your piano tuned regularly; finding the right tuner that is affordable while still does a good job is a must. Pianos need to be tuned at least once a year, most tuners will recommend having it done every 6 months.

Play your piano! This might sound obvious, but pianos really do benefit from regular practice and the sound of your instrument will develop with use, especially if bought when brand new.